COVID-19: PDP Rejects Disease Control Law, Says Lawmakers Trying to Shut Nigerians
POLITICS DIGEST – The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has rejected what it described attempts by the House of Representatives’ leadership to impose the Infectious Disease Control law on Nigerians without recourse to the laid down procedure of public hearing to allow Nigerians participate in the process of making the law.
The party described the move to shut out Nigerians from public debate on such crucial legislation as ominous, and that it raises suspicions on the objectives, as the nation combats the spread of COVID-19 pandemic.
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A statement by PDP national publicity secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan, said: “It was imperative to allow for popular participation, especially as the bill seeks to prescribe clauses on critical issues, particularly that of vaccination, which has become globally controversial in the face of raging conspiracy theories on the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Such approach is already worsening public mistrust, as well as heightening apprehension over the intentions of presiding officers of the House of Representatives and the All Progressives Congress (APC)-led administration at this critical time.”
The party insisted that Nigerians “be carried along in the decision-making process of such critical legislation, which seeks to make provisions that will directly affect their health, as well as overall individual and collective safety and wellbeing.
“Anything short of that would be counter-productive and capable of breeding an avoidable public resistance, especially given the deepening fear and anxiety in the polity over the COVID-19 pandemic.”
The PDP, therefore, counseled the Speaker of the House of Representatives to immediately call himself to order and allow for a public hearing on the bill.
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